Queens lawmaker pushes back against MTA plans to redesign borough bus routes

A New York state senator is putting pressure on the MTA to incorporate more local feedback into a pending redesign of Queens’ bus routes.

The MTA announced plans for a major redesign of Queens bus routes last year that would create 15 new routes, eliminate 10 existing ones and modify dozens of others. On Monday, state Sen. John Liu sent a letter to MTA CEO and Chairman Janno Lieber outlining the priorities of bus riders across multiple neighborhoods in northeast Queens, who raised fears of increased wait times, paying more money to transfer to the Long Island Rail Road and the removal of certain stops.

He said the MTA seems “to be more intent on cutting costs rather than serving the actual goals of the bus redesign, which is to meet customers’ priorities for more reliable service, faster travel, better connections and ease of use,” according to his letter.

“I demand the MTA explain how this plan is overall an increase and expansion of bus service in Queens – as opposed to an actually disguised cost reduction measure,” said Liu, whose district covers parts of northeast Queens including Flushing, Fresh Meadows and Bayside.

Liu, a member of the Senate's transportation committee, cited the planned elimination of the QM3 bus, which he argued would add transfers to riders heading into Midtown from northeast Queens. Reductions to the QM5, he said, would also increase wait times from 30 to 51 minutes during peak hours, according to the lawmaker’s letter.

Last year, MTA officials said the changes would mean another 200,000 riders in the borough would wait no longer than 10 minutes for a bus between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays.

In an email on Monday, MTA Spokesperson Meghan Keegan pushed back against the senator’s claims.

“Senator Liu is wrong," Keegan said. "The Queens bus network redesign plan provides more service, better service, faster service, and — along with a surge in Long Island Rail Road train frequency offered in NYC at a discount — delivers Queens residents more transit than ever before.”

The MTA previously said it hopes to implement the changes in 2025.

As for express buses, Liu said plans to reduce service could stand to cost commuters more than time.

“QM3 commuters will now have to take the local bus and transfer to the LIRR to get to Midtown, costing $7.90 during off-peak hours and $9.90 during peak hours, a significant jump from the $7.00 they currently pay on the QM3,” Liu said in his letter. “Given Queens’ significant lack of subway access, express buses continue to be an indispensable part of daily commutes to work, and the MTA must reconsider these reductions.”

In Bayside, Liu said rerouting the Q31 bus away from Bell Boulevard would be harmful to businesses and also reduce access to the area LIRR station. It would also strand high school students who attend Bayside and Francis Lewis, requiring transfers, the lawmaker argued.

Rerouting the Q27, he said, posed the risk of isolating access to key senior and religious centers around Kissena Boulevard and Holly Avenue, Liu said.

The senator also voiced riders’ concerns over “bottleneck choke points” on Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue, which continue to cause delays for commuters because of the congestion in the area. The MTA’s plan – the senator wrote – does not address this.

“I think it’s a good idea look at the bus service and look at ways in which to improve,” Liu said. “But so far, many of the changes constituents and Queens residents see seem to be more along the lines of cost-cutting rather than actual service improvements.”

Stephen Nessen contributed reporting.